The Industrial Revolution

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1027928145

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-159926

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Cunningham, William http://d-nb.info/gnd/128907487

Title:: The Industrial Revolution

Place of publication:: Cambridge

Publisher:: The University Press

Year of publication:: 1922

Scope:: xxii S., S. 404-886

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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THE SHEARMEN AND THE FRAMEWORK KNITTERS 667 all the distress’, and appears to favour the granting of AD Jr allotments” as a means of affording valuable occupation in leisure time. But though this expedient was tried it could not serve to raise wages; the industrial ‘reserve?’ was so large that the capitalist could force the stockingers to accept any terms, while the charge for frame-rents ran remorselessly on. The stockingers had endeavoured to con- test these claims, and had raised a case under the Truck Acts, but it was given against them*; altogether the circum- stances of the trade were such that capitalists had the opportunity of acting very oppressively towards the men. The evidence seems to show that under these circumstances the larger masters maintained an honourable course on the whole; but that the small capitalists, who had difficulty in carrying on business at all, were less scrupulous. I'he story of the framework knitters is particularly in- and were structive for those who desire to analyse the causes of the meacrirery distress that was felt in the early part of this century. In this particular industry, where conditions were so utterly miserable, there can be no pretence that mechanical improve- ments contributed to the degradation of the workers; this was due to a combination of circumstances which may be but to best described as reckless competition. The institutions of pining the Middle Ages, and of the seventeenth century, had aimed ***™ at maintaining the quality of goods as a necessary condition of lasting industrial success; the old methods of achieving this result were no longer practicable; but the evils, against which they had been directed, became particularly rampant when manufacturers came to aim at mere cheapness, as the only thing to be considered in the successful conduct of business. So long as this was the case no improvement seemed possible: to raise wages in any way would increase period, almost annihilated particular branches of the trade.” Reports, 1845, xv. 57, printed pagination 55. 1 7b. 142. % Jb. 138. This practice proved favourable to hand-loom weavers at Bridport (Ib. Reports from Assistant Commissioners on Hand-Loom Weavers, 1840, xx1m1. 288), but its success depended on the precise form of the scheme, and one of the methods tried at Frome did little good. (I5.800.) On the failure of allotments, where too large, as at Rotherfield in Sussex, or when managed by parish officers, 10t by private individuals, see Heports 1834, xxvIL. 107. 3 ¥. Engels. Conditions, 84. 4 Felkin, op. eit. 455.

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